Total Footplate Extraction in Stapedectomy

Abstract

The concept of total footplate removal in stapedectomy surgery is recommended as the preferred technique providing that the surgery is atraumatic. Only that part of the footplate which can be removed easily should be removed; in 4,761 consecutive stapedectomies a total footplate removal could be accomplished in 74%. Total and partial footplate removal necessitates a connective tissue graft to seal the oval window and must be coordinated with a suitable prosthesis which is efficient, functional and self-centering. The successful results between total and partial footplate removal are not statistically significant when employing the criteria of air-bone gap closure to within 10 dB but when comparing the complete air-bone gap closure rate there is a statistically significant difference with total footplate removal providing a more favorable hearing result.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Shea

Jr . Fenestration of the oval window. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1958; 67: 932–51.

Robinson

. A four-year study of the stainless steel stapes. Arch Otolaryngol 1965; 82: 217–35.

Moon

. Stapedectomy, connective tissue graft and the stainless steel prosthesis. Laryngoscope 1968; 78: 798–807.

Austin

. Stapedectomy with tissue seal. In: Snow

Jr , ed. Controversy in otolaryngology. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co, 1980.

Robinson

. The stainless steel stapedial prosthesis, one year's experience. Laryngoscope 1962; 72: 514–20.

Robinson

. Six years experience with the stainless steel stapedial prosthesis and vein graft. Rev Panam Otorrinolaringol Broncoesofagol 1968; 2: 85.

Robinson

. The Robinson stapes prosthesis: A fifteen-year study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1979; 87: 60–5.